Uranium in Canada 

 (Updated May 2013)

• Canada was the world's largest uranium producer for many years, accounting for about 22% of world output, but in 2009 was overtaken by Kazakhstan.
• Production comes mainly from the McArthur River mine in northern Saskatchewan province, which is the largest in the world.
• Production is expected to increase significantly from 2013 as the new Cigar Lake mine comes into operation.
• With known uranium resources of 572,000 tonnes of U3O8 (485,000 tU), as well as continuing exploration, Canada will have a significant role in meeting future world demand.

Canada is a country rich in uranium resources and a long history of exploration, mining and generation of nuclear power (for coverage of nuclear power, see information page on Nuclear Power in Canada). To 2008, more uranium had been mined in Canada than any other country – 428,000 tU, 18% of world total.

Exploration for uranium ore began in earnest in 1942 under direction of the government for military purposes. A wartime ban on private prospecting was lifted in 1947, which led in the early 1950s to the discovery of major deposits near Elliot Lake, Ontario, and northern Saskatchewan. By 1959, 23 mines and 19 treatment plants were in operation, and Canada's C$330 million in uranium exports exceeded the value for every other mineral.

A second burst of exploration in the 1970s resulted in major discoveries in the Athabasca Basin in northern Saskatchewan. Mines at Rabbit Lake, Cluff Lake and Key Lake started up in 1975, 1980 and 1983, which up until 2000 accounted for most of Canada's uranium production (14,223 tonnes of U3O8 in 1998). Cluff Lake, Key Lake and the original open pit at Rabbit Lake have now been mined out (underground mining continues at Rabbit Lake). Mines that began operation just a decade ago now contribute most of Canada's production (see also Appendix 1: Brief History of Uranium Mining in Canada).

Current production

Canada’s uranium production is tabulated below, and while relatively constant over the last few years, its share of world production has dropped from about 20% to 15%.

The main uranium producers are Cameco and Areva Resources Canada (formerly Cogema Resources), part of France's Areva Group. Cameco was formed in the 1988 merger of Saskatchewan Mining Development Corporation and the government-owned Eldorado Nuclear Ltd. The company issued its first public shares in 1991 and was fully privatized in 2002.

In the early 1990s, the Saskatchewan government had considered phasing out uranium mining in the province. This policy was later reversed after a joint Federal-Saskatchewan study panel on health, safety, environment and socio-economic impact found that the jobs provided by the industry would be hard to replace and that the environmental impact of mining could be minimized. Today, the provincial government actively supports uranium mining, and all new Saskatchewan uranium mines have international ISO 14001 environmental certification.

Annual uranium production (tonnes U3O8)^a

Domestic production in tonnes of uranium (as opposed to U3O8) is given in Note a.

Canadian uranium exports (tonnes uranium)^b

McArthur River 

The McArthur River uranium mine is the world's largest, with enormous reserves (about 175,000 tonnes U3O8, 148,300 tU) of high grade ore (16.5% U3O8 after allowance for dilution) located 600 metres underground. Remote control raise boring methods are used to mine the ore, which is then trucked 80 km south to be milled at Key Lake, site of the closed mine that once produced 15% of the world's uranium. At the mill, which has been modified for the McArthur River ore, the ore is blended with 'special waste rock' and processed to produce U3O8. Tailings are deposited in a mined-out pit. The licensed capacity of the Key Lake mill is basically 8,500 t/yr U3O8, but after Cameco applied for an increase to 10,000 t/yr permission was given for production up to 9,250 t/yr to catch up earlier year shortfalls. From 2018 it projects 10,000 t/yr U3O8 subject to regulatory approval.

Cameco is the majority owner and operator of McArthur River mine (69.8%) as well as the Key Lake Mill (Areva is a 30.2% and 16.7% partner, respectively). Areva has applied for a licence to process some McArthur river ore at McClean Lake.

Other deposits close to McArthur River are prospective.

McClean Lake

After starting operation in mid-1999, McClean Lake produced about 2500 t/yr of U3O8 from 2.4% ore up until 2005, although production was well down in 2006 through to 2010 due to lower ore grades. The mine was relicensed at 3640 t/yr. Operations have comprised three open pits, with an underground mine from Sue B pit planned for the future. McClean Lake also has high-quality new plant and infrastructure. It uses the first mined-out pit for tailings disposal - the JEB tailings management facility.

The JEB mill has been expanded to 5,500 t/yr U3O8 to accommodate the ore that was to be shipped from the Cigar Lake mine now under construction (see section on Cigar Lake below). With new arrangements concluded in 2011 it will now treat all the Cigar Lake ore, and Areva plans a further investment of nearly C$ 150 million to upgrade the plant and increase its capacity to more than 8500 t/yr U3O8 Areva says that the mill is the most technologically-advanced in the world, being able to treat ore from less than 1% to 30% U, and in fact is the only facility capable of processing high-grade uranium ore without diluting it. CNSC gave regulatory approval at the end of 2012 to operate the mill with high-grade ore from McArthur River and increase production from 3640 to 5900 t/yr of concentrate. Areva plans to commission and restart the mill in 2013, and first deliveries from Cigar Lake are expected in September. Areva says it is the only uranium mill in the world able to process high-grade ore without dilution, and it plans to increase the capacity to 10,900 tonnes U₃O₈ per year.

Efforts to increase production to fill the gap left by the delay in Cigar Lake production have had limited success, and development of the nearby small Caribou deposit awaits improved economic conditions. Mining of Sue E deposit 2005-08 and Sue B in 2008 over 2008-10 provided ore for the mill until mid-2010 when it was shut down and put on to care and maintenance. This was to last until about a year before the Cigar Lake ore starts to be processed, unless Areva's 30% share of McArthur River high-grade ore can be diverted there. In March 2010 Areva applied for a licence to divert some McArthur River high-grade ore there for three years, entailing a 950 km road haul. Some 115,000 tonnes of low-grade ore remains stockpiled to be treated when markets improve, or possibly a diluent for the McArthur River ore. Reserves are small.

McClean Lake is majority-owned (70%) and operated by Areva Resources. Denison Mines (22.5%) and the Japanese company Overseas Uranium Resources Development (OURD, 7.5%) are Areva's joint venture partners.

Rabbit Lake

Uranium was discovered at Rabbit Lake in 1968 and it was brought into production by Cameco in 1975. Most of the deposit has been mined out, but reserves still exist at Eagle Point, where around 1700 t/yr of U₃O₈ from an ore grade of 2.1% have been mined underground in recent years. However, production is expected to diminish in the next few years.

Future mines

Uranium production in Canada is likely to increase significantly as several new mines, now planned or under construction, go into operation sometime after 2011. The two largest projects are Cameco's Cigar Lake mine and Areva's Midwest mine, both in northern Saskatchewan. The mill at McClean Lake has been modified to process ore from both mines. The Rabbit Lake mill will also be modified to take ore from Cigar Lake. Total production is expected to be 8,200 t/yr U3O8 from Cigar Lake and 2,600 t/yr from Midwest.

Canadian uranium resources^c

Cameco's McArthur River reserve figures include allowance for 20% dilution from backfill and mineralized waste mined, so grade is 20% less than in situ.

Cigar Lake 

The proven and probable ore reserves at Cigar Lake are extremely large and very high grade. A 480-metre-deep underground mine is being developed in very poor ground conditions - the orebody is actually in the soft Athabasca sandstone. Hence it will use ground freezing and high pressure water jets at this level to excavate the ore. It was agreed in October 2011 that ore slurry from remote mining will be trucked for toll treatment at Areva's expanded McClean Lake mill, 70 km northeast. The average feed grade will be 20.7% U₃O₈. (Earlier it was envisaged that all of the leaching would be done at McClean Lake and about half of the uranium solution will go on to Cameco's Rabbit Lake mill 70 km east for final production of uranium oxide concentrate. The new arrangement will reduce costs by 20%.) Production is expected to ramp up to 8,200 t/y U3O8 (7,000 tU/y) over four years from production start in mid 2013. Known resources are 150,000 tonnes U3O8 at about 17% average grade, and with other resources the mine is expected to have a life of at least 30 years.

Construction on the project began in 2005 with production originally scheduled to start in 2011. However, underground floods in 2006 and 2008 set the start date back until about mid-2013 and increased the overall cost of the project from C$660 million to more than C$1.8 billion. There are extra requirements for pumping capacity – now 2500 m³/h, and ground refrigeration. In February 2010, dewatering was complete and remediation remediation proceeded. The 425 m level was backfilled and new workings developed in more competent rock at 480 m level. The estimated average cash operating cost for Cigar Lake increased from $14.40 per pound U3O8 in 2007 to $23.14, but revised milling plans have reduced this estimate to $18.60 per pound.

Some 1.3 million cubic metres of waste rock from Cigar Lake is being emplaced under water in the Sue C pit at McClean Lake, to prevent acid generation from it. Tailings will remain at McClean Lake and Rabbit Lake.

A Cigar Lake II deposit nearby is being investigated.

Cameco, which has 50% ownership, is managing the joint venture, with Areva holding 37%, Idemitsu 8% and TEPCO 5%.

Midwest

Indicated resources at Midwest are 19,500 tonnes of U3O8 with an average ore grade of 5.50%. (Probable reserves in this comprise 18,870 t at 5.47%.) A further prospect 3 km to the north, Midwest A, has 2600 t U3O8 indicated at 0.57%. The original plans were for an underground mine, utilising ground freezing and water jet boring, but current plans call for a large open pit mine that will go to a depth of 215 metres and involve draining an arm of South McMahon Lake. The ore will be shipped 15 km to the McClean Lake mill to produce 1500 to 2600 t/y U3O8 for seven years. A comprehensive environmental assessment for the project began in 2006 and federal environmental approval for open pit mining was received in August 2012. Other potential mining methods are being evaluated, including conventional underground and surface jet bore drilling, using the SABRE (“Surface Access Borehole Resource Extraction”) mining technology.

Production was originally scheduled to begin in 2011, but in late 2008 the starting date was postponed due several factors, including a 50% rise in the initial estimated capital costs of $435 million. The Midwest project is being managed by Areva Resources, which owns 69.16%. Denison Mines has a 25.17% stake and OURD Canada 5.67%.

Dawn Lake

Although its development is much further off, a deposit of more than 5,000 tonnes of indicated uranium resources is prospective at Dawn Lake in northern Saskatchewan. Grades of up to 30% ore at depths of 280 metres have also been reported nearby. Cameco has 57.4%, Areva 23.1% and Japan-Canada Uranium subsidiary JCU (Canada) Exploration 19.4%.

Exploration prospects

In addition to mining operations planned for the near future, active exploration involving more than 40 companies continues in many parts of Canada. While exploration has concentrated on northern Saskatchewan, new prospects extend to Labrador and Nova Scotia in the Atlantic provinces, Quebec province, Nunavut Territory in the far north, and Ontario's Elliott Lake area. Resource figures quoted are generally NI 43-101 compliant.  Cameco alone had an exploration budget of $96 million in 2010 and expects to spend $90 million in 2011.

The 2009 IAEA Red Book says that in 2007-08 "uranium exploration remained focused on areas favourable for the occurrence of deposits associated with Proterozoic unconformities in the Athabasca Basin of Saskatchewan, and to a lesser extent, similar geologic settings in the Thelon and Hornby Bay basins of Nunavut and the Northwest Territories. 

The main prospect in the Eastern Canada's Central Mineral Belt, in Labrador, is the Michelin deposit, which is being drilled in a C$21million program by Aurora Energy Resources (subsidiary of Paladin Energy, acquired in 2011). Michelin and the adjacent Jacques Lake deposit have measured and indicated resources of 35,000 tonnes of U3O8, plus 16,000 t inferred resources, mostly requiring underground mining. In 2009, a positive economic assessment of the project proposed investment of US$ 984 million to set up mine and mill, with production ramping up to 3000 t/y. A Nunatsiavut government 3-year moratorium until March 2011 was in place, and expiry of this coincided with completion of a land use planning assessment undertaken jointly by the Nunatsiavut and Newfoundland-Labrador governments. After establishing a lands administration system, developing environmental protection legislation, and following a review and public consultation, in December 2011 the Nunatsiavut Assembly voted unanimously to lift a moratorium on the development of uranium deposits on Labrador Inuit lands, and this was legislated in March 2012. Five of Aurora's six uranium deposits in the Central Mineral Belt fall within the Labrador Inuit lands. In total, Aurora's holdings have measured resources of 6860 tonnes U3O8 (5808 tU), indicated resources of 31,200 tonnes U3O8 (26,425 tU) and inferred resources of 24,000 tonnes U3O8 (20,386 tU ) based on NI 43-101 figures published in 2009. Bayswater Uranium Corp. has announced a very small deposit at Anna Lake nearby.  Mega Uranium is drilling at Bruce River and Aillik East in the region.

In the Nunavut Territory, some 500 km north of Manitoba, a joint venture headed by Areva is conducting a feasibility study on the Kiggavik uranium deposit in the Thelon Basin, with an estimated 67,000 tonnes U3O8 at 0.24% grade. The indigenous Inuit organization, Nunavut Tunngavic, reversed its previous ban on uranium exploration and mining in 2006, but the project has faced opposition from other groups. In March 2010, the Nunavut government ruled that the proposal would be reviewed by a territorial regulator rather than undergo a federal environmental assessment. The project involves the development of three open pit mines at Kiggavik and both an open pit mine and an underground mine at Sissons. Areva and its partners, JCU (Canada) Exploration and Daewoo, hope for a start-up of the mine and mill complex in 2015 to produce about 3000 tU/yr.^e Kivalliq Energy has identified 12,330 t U3O8 (10,500 tU) inferred resources grading 0.69% U₃O₈ with 0.2% cut-off at the Lac Cinquante deposit of its Angilak project, and higher-grade intersections since will update this early in 2013. Its adjacent Lac 50 Trend deposit has 19,680 t U₃O₈ inferred resource at same cut-off. Also in Nunavut, at Amer Lake, Uranium North Resources has reported inferred resources of 9500 t U₃O₈ .

In uranium-rich northern Saskatchewan, exploration projects are now well-advanced at several locations. The Millennium deposit (70% owned by Cameco, 30% by JCU) has indicated resources of 23,100 tonnes of 4.5% grade U3O8 and 7575 tonnes of 2.1% grade inferred. It is between McArthur River and Key Lake, and ore would be milled at Key Lake. A feasibility study on the project has led to Cameco seeking approval to mine it at about 2500 tU/yr. A draft environmental assessment has been lodged. Underground development is envisaged over 2013-17. In 2012 Cameco paid C$ 150 million for Areva's 28% share. The Tamarack deposit associated with Dawn Lake is also a focus of interest, with an indicated resource of 8100 tonnes U3O8 at 4.42% requiring underground mining.

The Shea Creek project (51% owned by Areva, 49% UEX Corp. which is 21.3% owned by Cameco) in the western Athabasca Basin 13 km south of Cluff Lake has reported high grade ore. In April 2013, UEX announced indicated resources of 30,770 t U3O8 grading 1.48% and inferred resources of 12,800 tonnes grading 1.01%, as of January, with cut-off 0.30%. The deposit remains open. Production at about 2500 tU/yr is envisaged. Exploration expenditure to the end of 2012 was C$40.5 million.

UEX is also exploring the Horseshoe and Raven deposits at Hidden Bay in the eastern Athabasca basin (5 km from Rabbit Lake and 12 km from McClean Lake). The Horseshoe deposit has indicated resources of 10,400 tonnes of U3O8 at a grade of 0.20% at 100 to 400 m depth. Raven has indicated resources of 5500 tonnes at 0.11%, with cut-off 0.05%, at 100 to 300 m deep. These amounts increase slightly with 0.02% cut-off. A Preliminary Technical Assessment of the deposits in 2011 was positive and recommends a preliminary feasibility study which also includes the smaller but shallow West Bear deposit (720 t at 0.91%). The 2011 report assumes Horseshoe access by decline and Raven by open cut, with toll milling and tailings management at Rabbit Lake mill over seven years. 

Denison is actively exploring the Wheeler River project half way between Key Lake and McArthur River. It is a long strike from the latter and geologically very similar, with some high-grade uranium mineralisation. In January 2013 the NI 43-101 compliant indicated resources for the Phoenix deposits were upgraded to 23,770 t U3O8 at an average grade of 15.6%, and inferred resource 3500 t U3O8 at 29.8% grade, for underground mining, with cut-off grade 0.8%.

Fission Energy Corp (60%)with a consortium led by Korea Electric Power Corp (Kepco) is exploring the Waterbury Lake area near Midwest. Indicated resources in its J zone are 4680 t U₃O₈ at 1.52%. In January Denison agreed to buy Fission Energy. Fission Uranium Corp was then spun out of it, and has a major interest in Patterson Lake North and South prospects.

The Roughrider prospect 24 km from Rabbit Lake in Athabasca Basin at the time of takeover of Hathor Exploration had inferred resources of 13,700 t U3O8 at 11.58%, with 0.4% cut-off in the Eastern zone, for underground mining, and in the West zone indicated resources of 7800 t U3O8 at 1.98% and 4800 t inferred resources at 11.03% with 0.5% cut-off, for open pit mining. The East Zone is a series of moderately-dipping stacked, parallel lenses (greater than 0.5% U3O8). Since then further drilling has extended the resource. A preliminary economic assessment for Hathor suggested low production costs over an 11-year mine life producing 1900 tU per year. Hathor was subject to a takeover bid from Cameco but agreed to another from Rio Tinto, valuing the company at C$654 million.

In Nova Scotia, exploration has been proposed at Millet Brook, but it awaits a review of a 1985 moratorium on uranium mining in the province.

In Quebec, uranium exploration is underway at several locations with a total of more than 40,000 tonnes of indicated or inferred deposits. However, in April 2013 the Quebec government announced that no permits for uranium exploration or mining would be issued in Quebec until an independent study into its environmental impact had been completed, possibly in 2014.

In the Otish Mountains of central Quebec Strateco Resources Inc. had been granted a licence by CNSC to conduct underground exploration on the Matoush deposit from 2014, and commenced environmental studies for the project. Matoush has indicated resources of 5600 tU at 0.81%U and inferred resources of 6320 tU at 0.375%U, and the company projeced mine production of 1000 tU/yr over 7 years from 2016. Strateco has commenced legal action against the provincial government following the April 2013 moratorium, and announced an impairment charge of $87 million in its accounts due to its inability to proceed with the project’s underground exploration program, the suspension of exploration and evaluation planned for the coming year, and the uncertainty created for Quebec’s uranium industry.

Abitex Resources/ABE Resources is exploring its Epsilon project in the Otish Mountains of Quebec. Azimut Exploration has committed C$42 million to uranium exploration, mainly for the Katavic project in Quebec's northern Nunavik region and other prospects in the Ungava Bay region further north. Uracan Resources reports 3100 tonnes U3O8 of indicated resources and 16,900 tonnes of inferred resources in the Double S zone at its North Shore prospect in eastern Quebec. Areva is establishing a joint venture with Waseco Resources to explore the Labrador Trough project.

In Northwest Territories, Cameco has the prospective Boomerang project in the southwest Thelon Basin. Land access issues hinder active exploration at present.

The Elliot Lake area of Ontario, which was the centre of Canada's early uranium mining, is again attracting exploration. In September 2008, Pele Mountain Resources commenced the permitting process for its Eco Ridge underground uranium and rare earth oxides mine and processing facility in the region. Eco Ridge contains indicated resources of 6900 tonnes U3O8 and inferred resources of 14,300 tonnes U3O8. The Serpent River-Pecors deposit is a few kilometres east.

In British Columbia, the Blizzard prospect south of Kelowna, which was first explored in the 1980s, has been revived by Boss Power. The company has challenged a provincial government moratorium on exploration and mining imposed in April 2008, and the British Columbia government has indicated the Blizzard project may be able to go forward.

Uranium exploration appears to be on the upswing throughout Canada. Cameco spent C$57 million on exploration in 2008 (plus a further $32 million in three strategic partnerships with junior explorers) and plans C$50-55 million for 2009, mainly in Saskatchewan, Nunavut and the Northwest Territories. In late 2007, Cameco announced an agreement with the Russian company Uranium Holding ARMZ (JSC Atomredmetzoloto) to create a joint venture to explore and mine uranium in northwest Russia, Saskatchewan and Nunavut.

Recent transfers to foreign ownership 

As well as foreign equity in the companies with uranium mines, in recent years there has been increased interest in exploration companies. Some companies active in Canada are foreign-based, eg Areva. The following table outlines some recent foreign investment in Canadian-based or established explorers, or particular projects, which have credible resources.

Further Information

Appendix

Appendix 1: Brief History of Uranium Mining in Canada

Related information pages

Nuclear Power in Canada

Notes

a. Data: company sources. Where an asterisk (*) is shown, the figures are small and included with the McArthur River figure.

Annual uranium production (tonnes U)

[Back]

b. Data: company sources. Where an asterisk (*) is shown, the figures are from the World Nuclear Association Market Report. [Back]

c. Data: company sources. In Canadian figures resources do not include reserves and are reported in accordance with Canadian standard NI-43-101. [Back]

d. Average ore grades given as percentage of U₃O₈ in the ore. [Back]

e. The two parts of the project (Kiggavik and Sissons) are operated by Areva Resources Canada Inc.; Sissons is held 50% by Areva in joint venture with JCU (Canada) Exploration Co. Ltd. (48%) and Daewoo Corporation (2%); and Kiggavik itself is held 99% by Areva and 1% by Daewoo. [Back]

General sources

Uranium webpage on Natural Resources Canada website (www.nrcan.gc.ca)
Cameco annual reports
Uranium in Saskatchewan series of fact sheets available on Cameco's website (www.cameco.com)
Areva Resources website (www.cri.ca)
Canadian Nuclear Association website (www.cna.ca)

Red Books:
Uranium 2007 - Resources, Production and Demand, OECD Nuclear Energy Agency and International Atomic Energy Agency, OECD Publishing, June 2008 (ISBN: 9789264047662)
Uranium 2009 - Resources, Production and Demand, OECD Nuclear Energy Agency and International Atomic Energy Agency, OECD Publishing, July 2010 (ISBN: 9789264047907)